Former Little River Band members have responded to claims of a dispute with John Farnham in a new documentary that alleges the famous singer was “over the top” and thought he had to “carry” the chart-topping group himself.
LRB was one of Australia’s most successful pop and rock exports with hits including Reminiscing, Lady, Help Is On Its Way, Home On A Monday and Happy Anniversary.
But former members Graeham Goble, Beeb Birtles and David Hirschfelder are concerned about the way the band was portrayed in the doco film John Farnham: Finding The Voice.
Claims made in that film included infighting, stage sabotage and comments by the band’s former manager, the late Glenn Wheatley, that overseeing LRB was “like managing World War III”.
Farnham was in LRB from 1982 to 1986. He replaced Glenn Shorrock.
A new film, by doco-maker Dr Carolyn Bilsborow, sheds new light on disharmony in the band.
Birtles said he couldn’t harmonise effectively because Farnham had a higher singing voice.
He also said, in a live setting, Farnham had “so much energy and enthusiasm” and spoke in a “very Australian accented voice and … very fast”, adding: “I don’t think a lot of people understood what he was saying.”
Goble said: “The big mistake (Farnham) made was thinking that it was just him, and he had to carry it all. We were a band, he didn’t need to do anything more than just to stand there and sing, but he went over the top through nervousness, trying to entertain.”
Birtles added: “I had it firmly planted in my mind that once a solo star, always a solo star. I think there’s a different mentality”.
But Goble, Birtles and Hirschfelder said the band started failing because they had no record company support, and the MTV era was dawning.
Hirschfelder said Farnham blamed himself for LRB’s demise.
“I said, ‘Mate, it’s not your fault. It’s not anyone’s fault. It’s just the way it worked out. The band moved on and the audience didn’t go with it’.
“My memory of any tension was minimal. All they said on John’s documentary about managing World War III, I didn’t see anything like that.”
“Up until the end. I loved John’s energy,” Goble said. “He was a joy to be around, totally professional and I can’t say anything negative about the way I felt about John in the band.”
The original line-up of LRB sold 30 million records, and made history as one of the first Australian bands to crack America.
Goble has been credited with being the creative force behind Farnham’s 1980 album, Uncovered, which helped the singer evolve from former pop idol to adult artist.